Four Charged in Armed Robberies

PHILADELPHIA—United States Attorney Laurie Magid, Delaware County District Attorney G. Michael Green, Philadelphia District Attorney Lynne Abraham, and Special Agent-in-Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Janice K. Fedarcyk announced today the filing of two indictments charging Nuri Murray with armed robbery and using a firearm during an armed  robbery, and Shawn Davis, Cheron Humphrey, and Rickey Phillips with conspiracy to commit robbery, armed robbery, and using a firearm during a robbery.  Davis and Humphrey are also charged with attempted carjacking and using a firearm during the attempted carjacking.

The charges against Murray arise out of his participation of a November 22, 2008, armed robbery of Laura’s Nail Salon in Philadelphia.

The charges against Davis, Humphrey, and Phillips arise out of a November 29, 2008, attempted armed carjacking of a Mercedes Benz and a December 3, 2008, armed robbery of Nagwon Garden Restaurant in Upper Darby.  The indictment alleges that Davis, Humphrey, and Phillips targeted members of the Asian community who were also owners of businesses because of their belief that Asian business people carry large amounts of cash and take cash from their business home with them, instead of locking it in their businesses.  The indictment alleges that these defendants cased businesses, waited until owners left at night, and then followed the owners home.  The defendants approached these business people at their homes, brandished firearms at them, and demanded money, even going so far as to force their way into one victim’s home and assaulting the victim and her son.

Murray faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a mandatory minimum term of seven years’ imprisonment, five years supervised release, a $500,000 fine, and a $200 special assessment.  Davis and Humphrey face a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, including a 32-year mandatory minimum term of imprisonment, five years supervised release, a $1.25 million fine, and a $500 special assessment.  Phillips faces up to life imprisonment, including a mandatory minimum term of seven years imprisonment, a five years supervised release, a $750,000 fine, and a $300 special assessment.

This case has been investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Pennsylvania State Police, and various local law enforcement agencies.  The case has been assigned to Assistant United States Attorneys Salvatore L. Astolfi and Alexander T. H. Nguyen.

INFORMATION REGARDING THE DEFENDANTS